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The best distance cross training is...

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01 / Original postThe best distance cross training is...napalm · 19 Mar 2008 02 / This pagePosts 1–9Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #9zfreak220 · 25 Mar 2008

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rec.sport.unicycling
Published
19 March 2008
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25 March 2008
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napalm
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ClimbingShort cranks

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  1. Original post
    napalm
    Archived post
    #1

    Hey guys and gals,

    Just thought i would write something up about my training for distance
    riding which has really helped me improve my cadence, hill climbing and
    overall fitness.

    My university holds an inter-college sporting event each year called
    inward bound. It is a team long distance running and orienteering
    event, and the biggest sporting event of the year. Teams of 4 from each
    competing college get dropped in the wilderness (having been
    blindfolded and driven around for a few hours), they then have to find
    out where they are and make their way to the endpoint. First team from
    each division (7 divisions and drop points)across the line wins. The
    college with the most points from all divisions wins the overall
    competition.

    I competed in the even last year and went well, our team won the 65km
    division by half an hour. Traning for this year for me has been split
    between distance riding and distance running. I usually run 3 times a
    week about 10- 15km runs with the odd longer one thrown in. I also try
    to get out on my uni on the days where i don't run and do a 25km loop
    around the lake here.

    Since i've been running my time for doing my unicycle loop has been cut
    by a massive 20 mins. Also the hills that used to have me sweating and
    panting like a fat man with a burger are now so easy i am overtaking
    cyclists on them. It also works the other way round as well- my hill
    climbing style when running is a little different (smaller steps but
    faster foot speed). I think i can put this down to the muscle
    development that has been achieved by using short cranks (125's) for
    lots of climbing.

    I have found that running gives you the potential to push your body
    further more easily (ie higher sustained heart rates on hill climbs),
    then by riding distance uni. It is when you combine a running fitness
    with a unicycle that i have been able to improve considerably.

    Does anyone else have tips for cross training for distance or things
    they want to add? Might make an interesting read for those who are
    seriously keen to own RTL this year.

    Mark

    --
    napalm

    you wont do it...your SCARED!
    "We are all racing towards death. No matter how many great,
    intellectual conclusionswe draw during our lives, we know they are only
    man made, like God"
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  2. MuniSano
    Archived post
    #2

    I'll second that. I came into the sport of unicycling from a long
    distance running background. I've been a runner for over half my life
    and so it made long distance cross-country unicycling rides much easier
    (once I mastered the skills needed). What I didn't expect was the
    reverse was true as well, time spent doing trials and offroad
    unicycling has helped my overall sense of balance and really sharpened
    my technical trail running ability and maintained my leg speed w/o
    having to do speed work.

    --
    MuniSano
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  3. boisei
    Archived post
    #3

    Absolutely. I run ultramarathons, and so I had the endurance bit down,
    and picked up a 36" wheel this Winter to keep in shape while the
    weather discouraged me from running. I've been unicycling since my
    youth, and could probably talk a bit about how it helped my aerobic
    fitness and ability to run then.

    Well, as I hoped I was very inspired to ride throughout the Winter, but
    to the almost full exclusion of running. I quickly and easily worked
    my way up to marathon distances in my rides, and regularly commuted the
    25-30K total round-trip distance to work and back by unicycle. But
    unfortunately, when my first ultramarathon of the year came at the end
    of February I hadn't gone on a run of more than 15-20K since December.

    No fear, I had maintained cardiovascular fitness and the appropriate
    major muscle groups were trained from unicycling (not to mention the
    balance and core strength for running trails) and I set a PR in both
    time and ranking for the distance. My feet were a bit sore, since they
    had softened up a bit with the lack of pounding over the Winter, but
    I've added running in my http://vibramfivefingers.com to my routine to
    keep my feet strong while I cross train.

    Since that race, I have also taken part in a 100K cycling event on my
    uni and finished within the time allotted for those who still ride with
    training wheels.

    Alas, the unicycle has done its job and I do need to focus more on
    running to be ready for my longer races coming up. But I've also
    included more cycling events to ride my uni long distances this year,
    including a century ride in May.

    So, yes. I found that being a fit endurance runner led almost
    immediately to an ability to perform well in endurance unicycle rides,
    and that endurance unicycle riding proved effective cross training for
    endurance running. They are a great cross-training pair of activities.
    Just don't let your feet get soft.

    --
    boisei
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  4. napalm
    Archived post
    #4

    Boisei- what exactly counts as a super marathon?

    Glad to see some other people have found out the same thing i have. I'm
    going to be doing a lot of riding (2000km over 4 weeks) in a few months
    time and i thnk i'm going to keep the running as part of my training
    for that.

    My IB team had a training run on thursday night that went really well.
    We competing against 3 other teams from our college to sort out places
    in teams for the end event. We were dropped on a fire road at 10.15pm
    and after 15min of scouting started on our run. We covered 30km in a
    little under 3 hours on nice fireroads with rolling hills. Luckily for
    us the night was really clear and the moon was nearly at it's peak so
    we could run most of the course without our head lamps.

    I pulled up pretty well the next day (despite only getting 4 hours
    sleep) and only have a little bit of stiffness in my calves (something
    i am partially putting down to my 30km speed ride on my 36" the day
    before the run).

    Only 3 weeks now untill the big event! am super psyched for it.

    mark

    --
    napalm

    you wont do it...your SCARED!
    "We are all racing towards death. No matter how many great,
    intellectual conclusionswe draw during our lives, we know they are only
    man made, like God"
    http://gallery.unicyclist.com/LAVISs-stuff
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  5. zfreak220
    Archived post
    #5

    ultramarathons (I think that's what you're referring to by super
    marathon) are any distance over the normal marathon. most commonly run
    offroad.

    Boisei-How do you like the vibrams? did you go buy them in person or
    from an online dealer?

    since unicycling tends to shorten your muscles in your legs (small
    circles). distance running is good to keep everything nice and
    balanced.

    --
    zfreak220

    agentQ said:

    Don't quote me on that.


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  6. Brian O.
    Archived post
    #6
    zfreak220 said:

    Boisei-How do you like the vibrams? did you go buy them in person or
    from an online dealer?

    I'm really intrigued by these as well. I'm wondering if they are good
    for slack lining.

    --
    Brian O.

    *'ProjectUNI' (http://www.projectuni.com) - *The First Serious Unicycle
    Computer Game* - -ProjectUNI update available 'here!'
    (http://projectuni.com/#lightbox3)-* - Join the 'discussion.'
    (http://www.projectuni.com/forum)
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  7. UniDudeDX
    Archived post
    #7

    those things are sweet.
    i think im gonna order a pair for my 2 week hiking excursion.
    the surges...the seem like the best ones....hmmm

    --
    UniDudeDX

    'My Youtube Profile!' (http://youtube.com/profile?user=unidudedx)

    Naomi said:

    trying to attach a picture of the tree, before it was circumsized.


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  8. boisei
    Archived post
    #8

    I happen to be wearing the vibrams right now, wearing them for the run
    in to work today. I bought them online, from the website I linked
    above, although you can get them at other sites and perhaps local shops
    as well. The website has directions on how to figure out your size
    that worked for me.

    Yes, an ultramarathon is a run longer than a standard marathon (which
    is 26.2 miles). Usually they start at 50K, and the longest I've run is
    100 miles. All of the ultramarathons I've run have been trail runs.

    Is slack inlining walking along a rope? I'd say vibrams would be
    perfect for that.

    Also, if the vibram surge appeals to you, I've heard they will soon be
    discontinued. Order while you can! A different full-foot-covering
    model called "KSO" for "Keep Stuff Out" is being added to the line
    instead.

    --
    boisei
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  9. zfreak220
    Archived post
    #9

    Yea, I'm waiting till the KSOs come out. I've heard April sometime, so
    not too long to wait. I have seen them on some shops but not the main
    website, so I'm hesitant to order. Do you wear 'Ininji socks'
    (http://www.rei.com/product/736316) with yours? or do you just go
    straight Vibrams?

    Also, ultramarathons can be time races. Like who can cover the most
    ground in 24 hours.

    --
    zfreak220

    agentQ said:

    Don't quote me on that.

    Jkohse said:

    ill never go back to 20 again, 24 for life!


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